L-FILMS, TV-SERIES reviews
Queering10/29/2018 Queering (Canada, 2018 -) Queering is a very nice Canadian TV-mini web series of a young lesbian, Harper (Sophia Graso) and her mother, Val (Susan Gallagher) who comes out as bisexual at the age of 60. Harper also has a best friend and roommate Devon (Diana Oh). Series was created and directed by Leticia De Bortoli. At first we get to know Harper's love story in a lesbian bar where she talks to her date about her former relationship with her ex-girlfriend McKenzie. McKenzie left Harper for her new girlfriend Katrina (nickname George) which Harper understood as boy George and thought she was left for a men. This was the first instance we learn about Harper's attitude towards bisexuality (she is devastated not only by the fact she was left but that she spent nine years of her life with a woman who was actually a bisexual – she never thought she would be dumped and replaced by man). While talking her date about her experience woman says that her story reminds her of a story she watched on Internet (youtube video) – a story of 60 years old woman who came out as bisexual and was married to a man most of her adult life. We move on the next scene when Harper meets her mother, Val tells her she separated from her father, Frank and won't host Christmas this year. A woman from bar comes to visit Harper when she sees Val and recognizes her from her coming out video as bisexual and she just poops in the flat to make Selfie of her and Val. And then Val tells to Harper that she is bisexual. Harper is at first shocked and in denial: she reasons she is probably just bored and searching for a new excitement in her life after she retired. However, Val insists that she is a bisexual. And how she knows that? Val tells Harper and Delvin about experience with Julliet, her lesbian pilate's instructor whom she was constantly looking at and felt obvious attraction for her. Harper is still in denial and while Harper and Val have a conversation about bisexuality on the bench in the park a bisexual jogger, Brit (Ana Stan) comes along and when recognizes Val from the video she compliments her for courage to come out as bisexual and invites them to the LB-party. In the meantime we hear a lot about usual stuff regarding bisexuality, such as that lesbians and LGBTIQ-community in general don't accept bisexuals because they swing for both teams, that they are unreliable and just looking to use LGBT-people for fun and excitement. Meanwhile. Harper's friend Devlin is very supportive of Val's recently discovered attraction towards women and they go shopping for Val's new outfit and even make her a Tinder dating profile. Then Harper, Val and Devlin go to the underground LB-party where women DJ'ing and read their poetry. Harper is again confronted with her prejudices regarding bisexuality: when meeting Brit they talk about it but then they make out. However, when Harper meets her ex-girlfriend McKenzie and her new girlfriend Katrina at party she finally finds out that she mistook Katarina for George and she is just devastated again realizing that McKenzie didn't love her any more, yet she still loves her. At the same time Val is confronted as being an attractive woman and when she was about to have a kiss with another woman she freakes out and lies that her husband waits her. She then doubts herself if she is indeed a bisexual or she made up a fantasy about her being bisexual. Harper finally accepts her mother's bisexuality is real and encourages her to allow herself a new experience. After talking to Harper, Val gathers courage and have her first kiss with another woman. There should be more such light 'hearted' web series and humorous too. Just because it’s filled with heart doesn’t mean it’s lacking humour. Devon is a standout when it comes to this, with a refreshing wit and ready talk about anything. There’s a conversation between Devon and Val about sex that’s as hilarious as it is wonderful. I also like portrayal of a mother-daughter relaxed, understanding and supportive relationship, especially as daughter is lesbian. And even if at first Harper can not quite cope with mother's newly discovered bisexuality she accepts it. Prejudices and stereotypes regarding bisexuality are accurately presented but only to be dismissed. And what makes Val such an important character is the fact she’s an older woman in her sixties, now coming out. As it may sound odd but it does happen in life that more elder women freely express their sexual orientation now. It also comes as revelation that it has been Val's a long standing wish, an attraction she felt even at college, it just didn't occur to her what it was about. Val's bisexuality is a facet to the queer community that is rarely represented in media, if at all.
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AuthorPhilosopher, publicist, editor, screenwriter with passion for LL-films and TV-shows. Archives
November 2021
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